WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen
In a town where baseball and football are the dominant youth sports, two Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School seniors are overcoming challenges and defying stereotypes to put Manatee County girls’ lacrosse on the map.
Sienna Cassella and Ashling Marshall have put in an unbelievable amount of effort throughout their youth, especially at the high school level, to earn scholarships to play lacrosse at separate Division I colleges. Their inspiring journey is a testament to what hard work and dedication can do for aspiring athletes.
The varsity girls’ lacrosse team at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School (SSES) went to the state tournament last year, something a team from Manatee County has never done before. In the last three years, their girls’ lacrosse team has won Districts twice, went to Regional Finals two times, and won Regionals to go on to States last year.
What sets Sienna and Ashling apart is not only their individual talent, but they have also displayed dominance on the draw. They have a unique partnership, as they’ve played together for six years on elite travel teams and in high school. They complement each other’s strengths, making them a formidable duo. Having over 500 draw controls, and almost 400 goals between them, these girls have been a dominant force.
Sienna was first introduced to the game when she was seven years old by Jason and Phyllis Morales, but at the time, the only recreation program was Monsters in Lakewood Ranch. She was encouraged and inspired to play by her grandfather, Dr. Charles Tomeo, who had played in college. Sienna and her family made the drive to the other side of town for the first year and she fell in love with the game.
It was around this time that Sienna’s uncle, Nick Pagnotta, came to Sienna’s dad, Pat Cassella, and mentioned that he would like to get his son playing. Nick and Pat had the idea to ask Dr. Tomeo if he would be willing to put lacrosse under the Manatee Wildcats umbrella, a successful local sports organization.
For the first few years, Pat oversaw the girls’ lacrosse program, and Nick was in charge of the boys’ program.
“Now, it’s been 10 years, and Wildcats has one of the most successful rec lacrosse programs on the west coast of Florida,” said Pat. Wildcats has since produced great high school players and several Division I athletes who are currently playing in college.
Sienna grew up in a region where lacrosse was still in its infancy and faced limited access to coaching and competition as a result. However, she didn’t let that deter her. She dedicated her time to honing her stick skills, her lacrosse IQ, and practicing tirelessly in her backyard. She sought opportunities to play at clinics and traveled long distances nationally to attend elite lacrosse showcases and tournaments.
10 years ago, you would be hard-pressed to find a girls’ lacrosse team to join, whether that be at the recreation, club, or high school level. Today, five area high schools and multiple recreation and club organizations offer lacrosse.
Indoctrinating this North American sport into the schools began at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School (SSES) in 2008 with Rob Marshall, Ashling’s father. Rob first introduced it as part of the PE program, and the following year, a club program was started at the school!
Ashling’s path to Division I lacrosse is clearly a family affair. Rob had played lacrosse in college and also having an older brother who played, Ashling began playing lacrosse at the age of three. She split her time playing in the northeast and Florida. As a Delaware native, she stood out in the sport.
The girls saw the untapped potential for lacrosse to flourish and set their sights on competing at the college level. Due to their speed, agility, stick skills, and tenacity, these young women earned several scholarship offers from Division I lacrosse programs. Sienna signed with Rutgers University in New Jersey, and Ashling signed with Bryant University in Rhode Island.
Because lacrosse is such a popular northeastern sport, Pat said there is a stigma that Florida girls aren’t as good at lacrosse. Sienna and Ashling are fighting to prove them wrong, though.
Rob said: “These two are the leading stat girls. Some of their biggest accomplishments are their combinations around the circle. We are extremely proud coaches and fathers.”
But their accomplishments don’t stop on the field. Sienna and Ashling have earned Head of School and Director’s List at SSES and were inducted into the National Honors Society in their sophomore year. They have both served three years as class officers as well as served the community through volunteering.
“Most of my volunteering is done in the summer in Delaware with the local Chamber of Commerce. But during COVID, Sienna and I started a lacrosse club,” Ashling said. “There was a middle schooler I was mentoring at the time who was unable to return to school, even with a mask. We would talk, and I would keep her company, but also, I was teaching her how to play lacrosse. It was really nice being able to provide her with that companionship while getting to share my passion with someone.”
Sienna joined a young women’s organization to help around the community and raise money for a variety of nonprofits. Additionally, she has volunteered with Wildcats to coach and train girls interested in lacrosse. But one of her most rewarding experiences was volunteering to support the Foundation for Dreams.
Sienna said: “Foundation for Dreams lets the kids feel a sense of independence. Although things might be more difficult for them because of the challenges they face, it helps them feel a sense of normalcy. The staff are able to adapt activities to allow the kids to do things that we can do, like sports, horseback riding, and swimming.”
The efforts Sienna and Ashling have exhibited are a testament to their character, perseverance, and passion. Their strong work ethic and sportsmanship make them exemplary student-athletes. They prove that with hard work and determination, regardless of geography or background, you can be successful and overcome whatever obstacles you may face.
Sienna and Ashling have the same advice to any girls interested in trying lacrosse out: Go out there and join with your friends. Sports activities are always more fun when you have friends on your team, but when trying something new, it helps to have a friend there to break down any awkwardness or barriers.
As they embark on their collegiate journeys, Sienna and Ashling carry with them the hopes and aspirations of future generations of lacrosse players in Florida, proving that the Sunshine State has a place on the national lacrosse stage.
- If you’re interested in learning more about the Wildcats program, visit https://www.manateewildcats.org/
